Israel's UN envoy wears yellow star during Security Council address

WASHINGTON

Israel's UN ambassador Gilad Erdan placed a yellow star on his suit during his address at a Security Council session on Monday.

"Just like my grandparents, and the grandparents of millions of Jews, from now on, my team and I will wear yellow stars. We will wear this star until you wake up and condemn the atrocities of Hamas," said Erdan.

He was referring to the Oct. 7 launching of a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group which has left more than 1,538 Israelis dead.

Erdan and other Israeli diplomats have repeatedly slammed several UN member states for not condemning Hamas.

"We will walk with a yellow star as a symbol of pride, a reminder that we swore to fight back to defend ourselves," he added.

The badge reads "Never Again." Nazi leaders originally used the yellow star badge, inscribed with the word Jude, which was a symbol of Nazi persecution.

After the Hamas attack, the Israeli military launched a controversial campaign against the Palestinian group in Gaza. Its attacks have killed more than 8,300 Palestinian civilians, including women and children.

Tel Aviv has faced criticism from many nations and UN agencies for its indiscriminate airstrikes.

The Israeli envoy also took aim at Iran during his address, likening the rule of Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei to Adolf Hitler's regime.

"The Ayatollah regime is the modern Nazi regime and their death squads include Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, the Houthis, the (Islamic) Revolutionary Guard (Corps) and other savage jihadists," said Erdan.

“Just like the Nazi regime, the Ayatollah regime sows death and destruction everywhere it touches," he added.